16-year-old arraigned on open-murder charge

Friday

Aug 1, 2014 at 4:22 PMAug 1, 2014 at 6:01 PM

By Andrea.Goodell and Lisa.Ermak@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4219

The suspect in a fatal stabbing in Holland Township Thursday is being held without bail, and will be moved to Ottawa County Jail today.Sixteen-year-old Victor Donaldson was in 58th District Court Friday for arraignment on an open-murder charge in the death of 18-year-old Japaris Lamar Rodgers.Judge Bradley Knoll, who oversaw Donaldson’s arraignment Friday afternoon, said Rodgers had gang ties, and since there have been gang-related altercations at the juvenile detention facility recently, agreed with the prosecuting attorney’s office that Donaldson will be safer in the Ottawa County Jail, though separated from the adult population.Whether Donaldson, himself, has gang ties is still unknown.On Thursday around 11 p.m., sheriff’s deputies were called to the corner of 136th Avenue and Riley Street for a stabbing.Ottawa County Sheriff’s Capt. Mark Bennett said Rodgers was walking with a group of friends on Riley Street near 132nd Avenue around 11 p.m. Witnesses reported Donaldson approached Rodgers with two others before he stabbed him multiple times in the chest and torso with an open folding knife.Rodgers was treated at the scene and transported to Holland Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Donaldson then turned and fled on foot. He was apprehended without incident four hours later.Bennett said it is believed the victim and suspect knew one another, but there was no orchestrated plan to meet up and fight, calling it a “chance meeting.”“It’s pretty apparent that the victim and suspect had some kind of tension or adversary relationship. We’re still trying to figure out exactly what that was.”When the attack occurred, Bennett said both the teens were headed to different residences in the area. About six people witnessed the stabbing, and are fully cooperating with law enforcement.An autopsy has not been completed yet and likely won’t be done until Monday, Bennett said.Both teens were residents of Holland Township, although Bennett said Donaldson is a transplant from the Flint area.Donaldson attended West Ottawa Public Schools at some point during the last school year, Bennett said. Rodgers attended Holland Public Schools through his middle school years and, according to district records, in 2011, transferred to a different school.Open murder is punishable by up to life in prison. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled for within the next two weeks.